Apparatus for separating broom-splints.



W. S. LANG.

APPARATUS FOR SEPABATING BROOK BPLINTB. APYLIOATION rmm In 21. 1908.

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W. S. LANG.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING BROOM SPLINTS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 21, 1908.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

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WALTER S. LANG, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING- BROOM-SPLIN'IS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed May 21, 1908. Serial No. 4%,101.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER S. LANG, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Separating Broom-Splints, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of one form of machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; F 3, i and 5 are detail views of portions of different forms of screens which may be employed.

My invention has relation to apparatus for separating broom splints.

Broom splints as they come to the manufacturer are of various sizes and contain many imperfect splints or flats. For many kinds of brooms it is necessary to more or less closely assort the splints as to size and to also separate therefrom imperfect splints and coarser stems or stalks, which are unfit for-use. My invention is designed to provide simple and convenient mechanical means by which this separation can be readily and quickly effected.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown one form of machine embodying my invention, and which will now be described, it being premised, however, that the broad features of my invention are susceptible of other embodiments, as will be readily ap parent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 9. designates the frame of the machine, at the upper portion of which are supported a plurality of splint holders or receptacles 3. These receptacles are open at the top and bottom, and may be of any convenient size or shape. A short distance below the lower ends of these receptacles, is a frame l, which. supports a perforated separating screen 5. The frame a is supported at one end upon the cam surfaces 6, and at the opposite end or edge is provided with straps 7, which are engaged by eccentrics 8 on a shaft 9 driven by pulleys 10, or other suitable means. As the shaft 9 is revolved, the eccentrics impart a combined endwise and vertical movement to the frame l and screen 5, which movement is assisted by the cam surfaces 6 upon which the opposite edge of the frame 4 is supported. Below the frame atis a second frame 11, which carries a table 11. This frame 11 and table 11 may be fixed, but I prefer to suspend them by means of the flexible cords 12 passing over the guide pulleys 13 and connected to a lever 1 1. This lever is adapted to be engaged with a rack bar 15 secured to one of the legs of the frame 2. When the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the frame 11 and table 11 will be supported in horizontal position; but by disengaging the lever 14 from the lower notch of the rack bar 1.5 and moving said lever upwardly the table may be lowered to facilitate the removal of chaff and other dirt which collects thereon, and also to pro vide more space for pulling the broom splints through the screen.

In operation the broom corn splints to be separated are placed in bunches in the holders or receptacles 3 with their lower ends resting on the upper surface of the screen 5. The agitation of the said screen will cause those splints which are of less diameter than the perforations of the screen to pass through said screen. until their butt ends rest upon the table 11. Splints of larger diameters, together with coarse stalks or stems, and imperfect splints or flats, will not be able to pass through the screen, but will be retained against its upper surface. After separation has in this manner been effected, the operator pulls the assorted splints, which have passed through the screen or partly therethrough, off from the table 11, and those splints which have not passed through the screen are removed from the boxes or holders These latter can then be placed in another machine having a screen of different mesh, or a screen of different mesh can be placed in the same machine, and a further separation effected, these separating operations being repeated until nothing remains in the boxes or holders but the stalks or stems and imperfect splints.

A perforated metal plate 5, such as shown in Fig. 3, may be used for the screen, or it may consist of wire netting 5 of proper mesh, as shown in Fig. 4. g

In broom manufacture there accumulates more or less waste material, which consists of good splints, which can be utilized by proper separation. This separation is, however, very difficult to eflect by hand, owing to the fact that the splints are more or less tangled and arein all sorts of positions with respect to each other. Waste material of this character can be separated and utilized by a machine such as that described. To accomplish this, the waste material is first taken by the operator and by a proper manipulation thereof is separatedin bundles in which the splints lie all in the same direction but some of them with their butt ends in one direction and some with their head ends in the opposite direction. Bundles of this material in this condition are placed in the boxes or holders 3, and a screen such as shown at 5 in Fig. 5, having a relatively coarse mesh, is placed on the frame st and is agitated in the manner described. Those splints which have their butt ends clownward will readily pass through the meshes of this screen, while those splints which have their head ends down will catch in the wires of the screen and w'll be prevented from passing therethrough. In this way the ma terial can be readily separated into bundles, in which the splints all lie in the same direction with their butt ends together. Such bundles may be then separated by the use of screens such as shown in Figs. 3 and at.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art who are familiar with the difficulties which have heretofore been attendant upon the assorting or separation of broom splints, since it provides a simple and convenient means by which the separation or assorting can be readily and etliciently effected.

A further advantage of the invention results from the fact that the frame of the machine is so constructed as to permit free access to the space between the screen 5 and the table 11, so that the operator can at all times draw out the splints which are passed through or partially through the screen 5 without stopping the machine. The provision of the vertically movable frame 11 and table 11 also facilitates the removal of the splints and the cleaning of the machine.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the invention. Thus, any suitable form of holders may be provided for the splints and the screens may be supported and agitated in any desired manner.

I claim 1. In apparatus for assorting broom splints, a separating screen, means for imparting a combined vertical and endwise agitating movement to said screen, means for holding the splints to be separated upon the screen, and a vertically movable table below the screen for catching the splints which pass therethrough; substantially as described.

2. 1n apparatus for separating or assorting broom splints, a screen, means for holding the splints to be separated or assorted upon said screen, means for agitating the screen, and atable below said screen and arranged to receive the butt ends of the splints which pass therethrough; together with means whereby said table may be moved towards and away from the screen substantially as described.

ln apparatus for assorting broom splints, a separating screen, a plurality of open bottom boxes or compartments above said screen for holding the splints to be assorted, a table or receiving surface below the screen, and means whereby the table or receiving surface may be moved vertically towards and away from the screen, and means for imparting agitation to the screen; substantially as described.

i. In apparatus for assorting broom splints, a separating screen, means for imparting combined vertical and endwise agitative movement to said screen, means for holding the splints to be separated upon the screen, and means underneath the screen for catching the splints which pass therethrough; substantially as described.

5. in a machine for assorting broom splints, a plurality of open bottom holders or receptacles for the splints to be assorted, a perforated screen below the same, means for agitating the screen, and a vertically movable receivable table below the screen together with means for moving said table towards and away from the screen and for holding the same in its different positions; substantially as described.

6. In apparatus for assorting broom splints, a supporting frame a holder or re ceptacle for the splints to be assorted, a perforated screen below the same, means for imparting a combined vertical and endwise agitating movement to the screen, and a receiving table below the screen, the frame of the machine being open at the sides to permit access to the space between the receiv ing table and the screen to enable the splints to be removed without stopping the machine; substantially as described.

In'testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER s. LANG.

i/Vitnesses EDNA HALL, DELORA E. WILLIAMS. 

